We've been waiting for this one for several years now , contractors going broke and other delays left us waiting like everyone else , but , here it is .
The skywalk has been in progress for quite a few years now , but it opened on Friday 12/6 . The official opening for all the important people was held on friday morning and it was opened to the public about 12 noon . We just happened to be there as the road blocks were removed . Wow is the first thought , the carpark was quite an improvement on the last time we were at the West Lookout . Concrete paths lead from the carpark around to the new skywalk , the path is textured and has messages etched into the path the start , there's also a couple of hand prints that are pieces of steel . It is raw steel and is rusting - and that's part of the interesting construction here - every 15-20m there's other steel plate in the path . There's an information board and a few metal sculptures of a Spotted Quoll , Emu & chicks , a Thorny Devil and a hawk / falcon on the edge of the cliff .
This is the first viewing deck on the 25m platform , the rusty steel featuring in the design .
This is looking back to the shelter area , where there will be a kiosk that is to be run by the Nanga People - the local indigenous . The mesh walkway has 2 sections - in the photo below , the mesh on the left is open and you can see all the way to the bottom of the gorge , the smaller mesh on the right is above the steel supports , so if you don't like the feeling of walking on air , you can walk on that side .
This is looking to the 2nd platform that goes out 17m . All of the Skywalk is wheelchair accessible . All of the steps in the photo and all round this site are cut from the local rock - probably from some of the rock they cut out to mount the steel framework of the platforms .
The weather wasn't as good as it could be and another heavy shower passed overhead , we went in under the shelter beside the kiosk to sit it out - all of about 5 mins . You can see in the next photo the view from under the shelter , also the seats & tables that have been cut out of the local rock .
The view to the 25m platform .
This is some of the rocks used for edging - the colours vary due to the iron content in the clay and sand as the rock was formed - amazing colours & patterns .
Here's the full size sculpture of the thorny devil .
After spending the best part of an hour and a half here , we moved around to Natures Window carpark and picnic area and had our lunch . We don't get bored coming here , we see something different each time we are here , this is visit number 4 .
Rain was threatening again so we took an umbrella with us this time , making it down to the window before the rain started , so we stopped at the shade sails and sat and waited it out . When it had finished raining , we discovered we had the window all to ourselves - a minor miracle here , it's extremely popular .
The was plenty of water in the Murchison River , and with the last shower plenty of pools of water lying around , here's one and the new Skywalk is on the cliff at the top right of photo .
There you have it , here's map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/drive?state=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%221wmVk98WWJP9mYI1sLhJ2ZSeJSkE6Dl97%22%5D%2C%22action%22%3A%22open%22%2C%22userId%22%3A%22115207065084240615246%22%7D&usp=sharing
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